Cupcakes

How to make cupcakes plus lots of Cupcake
Recipes

What are Cupcakes?

Cupcakes are small sweet individual sized sponge cakes which are often decorated
with icing, frosting and other decorations. In the UK cupcakes are often
referred to as fairy cakes - perhaps because of their small size.

Cupcakes can be baked directly in a patty tin which is similar to a
muffin tin only smaller, however they are most often baked in paper
cases - either plain white cases or coloured decorated cases.

Cupcakes are a favourite to serve at teatime and especially for
children's parties, when they can be decorated with icing and sweets
- kids love cupcakes and they also love to get involved in making
them.

How to make cupcakes - general instructions for making cupcakes

Basic Cupcake Mix

The basic mixture for a cupcake recipe is the same as for many other large
sponge cake recipes with the basic mixture consisting of

The above quantities are enough to make about 6 medium or 10 very small cupcakes, about 5cm/2-inches
in diameter and can be doubled or trebled as required, however
make sure to keep the same proportions of ingredients i.e. if you wish to treble
it the amounts would be:-

150g/6oz Self Raising Flour

150g/6oz Caster Sugar (superfine)

150g/6oz Butter or Margarine (shortening)

3 eggs

Mixing the cupcake ingredients

Although the traditional method is to cream together the
butter and sugar, then add the egg, mixing well, before
adding the flour, good results can be achieved by just
placing all the ingredients in the mixing bowl at the
same time (with the exception of any additional fruit if
using) as does mixing the cupcake ingredients in a food
mixer or processor.

How much mixture to put in the cupcake paper case or tin

A level tablespoon in each paper case will make medium sized cupcakes about
7.5cm/3-inches in diameter. A heaped teaspoon of cupcake mixture in each paper
case or cupcake hole will make small cupcakes about 5cm/2-inches in diameter.
You can make larger and deeper cupcakes by placing more of the cupcake mixture
in the cases or cupcake hole however, never fill the case or hole more than
2/3rds full.

At what oven temperature should cupcakes be cooked ?

In general 190C, 375F, Gas Mark 5 although if you have a fan assisted oven, you
should reduce the temperature accordingly.

For how long should cupcakes be cooked?

If you are using the above guidelines or a heaped teaspoon of cupcake mixture
per cake, 15 minutes should be long enough however, you can test whether the
cupcake is cooked through by pushing a wooden toothpick into the centre.
If it comes out clean, then the cupcake mixture has cooked through. If you
decide to make slightly larger cupcakes, they will need an extra 5 minutes or
so.

Decorating Cupcakes - How to decorate Cupcakes

Before you decorate your cupcakes, it is important to allow them to cool
completely by removing them from the baking sheet or tin, and placing on a wire
rack. Once cool, the options are endless, but here are just a couple of ideas
for decorating cupcakes:-

Light Glacé icing or frosting

Simply mix icing sugar (confectioners Sugar) with a very little water until the
mixture is smooth but not too runny, then spread thinly over the tops of the
cupcakes. Flavourings can be added to the icing mixture such as lemon, orange or
coffee, as can colourings and you can sprinkle the icing with chocolate
vermicelli, hundreds and thousands or small sweets before it sets on the
cupcake. Click here for lots of Glace Icing
Recipes

Butter cream (butter icing)

Mix up your favourite butter cream flavour and spread or pipe on the tops of the
cupcakes. Click here
for lots of Butter Cream recipes. As with the simple icing above, further
decorations can be pressed into the butter icing.

Fairy cake wings

Once the cupcakes are cold, cut a thin slice from the tops and cut them in half
down the centre. Place a teaspoon of jam or butter cream (butter icing) on top
of the cut surface of the cupcake then set the two cut pieces into the jam or
butter cream at an angle to form wings.

Cupcake Recipes

Below are lots of cupcake recipes plus a video showing you how to make and
decorate these scrumptious Easter Chocolate cupcakes in easy to follow steps.